Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / This study project sets out to examine the validity of an idea - an idea to create a
study-abroad programme complemented by combining studies with mission work
for Christian university undergraduates. In support of this idea, this study
researches the overwhelming arguments that would validate the programme.
The study then looks into how the programme can be designed and what its
desired focus should be.
In this study, the author first examines the prominent external forces that justify
the programmes' needs. Two prominent forces include the lack of valued, quality
leadership roles in today's business community, as well as the coming of a more
integrated world where business managers must gain the skills to transact
beyond borders. These two forces become the focal point of the education
component, while the last external issue examined explores the business mission
possibilities for southern Africa.
The study then delves to understand how business schools are adapting to the
issues of teaching leadership skills and the ability to transact beyond borders.
The author finds that even though many schools have responded by adding soft
skill courses such as leadership or internationalising their student bodies and
curricula, many organisations are still reporting the lack of quality global leaders.
With this, many organisations are creating Corporate Universities where they
themselves educate their employees through the use of Action Based Learning
(ABL). The author thus believes this ABL concept is a most effective tool in not
only training for specific functions of business, but also in tacitly improving the
soft skills of business management, which is becoming important for today's
global leaders.
Knowing these external and internal issues, the author studies the potential of
such a programme by analysing a Christian university's existing curriculum and
ABL missions structure, and then meets with prospective students, deans,
professors, and administrators who may desire a programme that combines
study abroad with mission work. The findings suggest that the focus of the
programme narrow in on global based leadership education complemented with
the use of Action Based Learning in the missions field to promote multidisciplined
business missions.
However, designing this Global Leadership Programme will require a model from
which to begin. The author chose the Value Chain concept; however, Porter's
(1985) Value Chain concept was thought to be too onerous for developing this
short-term programme. The author then describes and illustrates the use of
Sviokla and Rayport's Virtual Value Chain model (1994) and chose to use this
model in designing the programme. As a result, the subsequent Chapters first
establish direction by suggesting vision and mission statements and the Global
Lead Programme objectives, and then research the content (what is offered) and
context (how the content is offered) components of the model. In the end, the
author concludes the study by offering insight into infrastructure (the enabler)
considerations and options to enable the Global Lead Programme to grow and
succeed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20892 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Birdwell, Kent N. |
| Contributors | Denton, Mario, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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